Laptop Cart Check-out Procedures:
and Guidelines

 

The laptop carts contain state-of-the-art, Pentium 4, wireless network, with CD burner/DVD/CD ROM drive computers.  These features make them more valuable than the teacher laptops. As a result, they are a security risk.  Steps must be taken to keep them in their carts while not in use, and in their function while in the hands of the students.

 

  • Scheduling  The calendar in Outlook will be used to schedule the carts (just like the computer lab).
  • Check-out  Because of a few cases of laptop disappearances, Mr. Krohn or Mr. Thurman must physically check each cart before it rolls out of its storage area in the Library.
  • Check-in  Many times the carts will be reserved in two-day blocks.  When the carts are returned, the laptops must be counted by Krohn/Thurman   Carts must be returned to the library by 3:15 everyday (even at the end of the first day).
  • Teacher responsibilities The teachers must be responsible for getting the equipment ready for the next day’s use. All  laptops must be plugged-in to their power adapters inside the carts. The carts must be plugged-in to the “wall” overnight.  These tasks must be performed at the end of the day, every time they are checked out. If you do nothing else with the carts on your day, make sure the power adapters are plugged into all of the laptops, and the power to the cart is plugged into the wall at the end of the day.
  • Using the carts / Troubleshooting  The carts must be plugged into the electricity for the wireless hub to operate.  The laser printer must also have electricity.  It only takes one electrical cord to provide electricity for all the devices within the cart.  The electrical cord is  retractable and is located under the cart.  There is a panel of switches on the top of the cart.  All the switches must be in the ON position for the devices in the cart to operate.  There should be a NETWORK CABLE lying on the top of the cart.  This must be plugged into one of the drops in the classroom to give the wireless hub connectivity.  The cart should be connected to the network and the electricity for a couple of minutes before the first laptop is turned on. On the 20 and 30 laptop carts, there is a switch that has "internal" and "external" positions. "Internal" is to be used when the laptops are in the cabinet, and they are re-charging. "External" is to be used when the laptops are out of the cart--this powers the wireless hub.

 

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